Stringed musical instrument



March 18, 1930. w. l. KIRK 1,750,343

STRINGED MUSICAL INSTRUMENT Filed March 23 1921 Patented Mar'. 18, 1930 PATENT OFFICE WALTER I. KIRK, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS STRINGEI) MUSICAL INSTRUMENT Application filed March 23, 1921.

My invention relates to stringed musical instruments. v

One of the objectsl of the invention is to provide a simple and practical form of stringed musical instrument, somewhat similar to a banjo, but embodying certain features usually present in an instrument known as the ukelele.

Another object of the invention is to secure strength and durability in construction.

Another object of the invention is to secure a good musical tone and good musical effects. A still further object of the invention is to secure simplicityof construction with corre- 5 spending low cost of manufacture.

A still further object of the invention is to arrange for the easy holding-or supporting of the device in convenient position for playing. f

In the accompanying drawings Fig. 1 is a plan view of a musical instrument embodying my present invention;

Fig. 2 is across section of the same taken on line 2 2 in Fig. 1, on an enlarged scale;

Fig. 3 is a view of the body of the instrument with the head removed for convenience of illustration; n

Fig. .iis a cross section taken on line if-4 in Fig. 3 on an enlarged scale;

, Fig. 5 is a cross section taken on line 5-5 1n Fig. 2 on an enlarged scale.;

Fig. 6 is a view of a detail of construction.

' Referring to the drawings I show a musical instrument having a body 1, neck l, and a head 2 with stringsB-3 extending from pins 4-4 on the head 2 to a bridge 5 on the body 1.

The body 1 is preferably made circular in form, as shown in Fig. 2, being composed of an annular rim 6, a top or sounding board 7, and a bottom 8. This body 1, including the three parts just mentioned, is preferably made of wood, thereby simplifying and cheapening the construction and also giving a very mellow tone.

rThe top or sounding board 7 is preferably provided with a transversely extending rib or brace 10 glued thereto which serves to strengthen it and prevent it bending or buckling. This member 10 preferably extends almost to the inner edge of the annular frame Serial No. 454,724.

6, as shown in Fig. 2, but does not quite touch the same. This member 10k is also preferably made of wood. e

The bottom member 8 is preferably secured to the rim 6 with a space 11 between it and 55 the lower edge of said rim 6. As a securing means I show screws 12-12 passing through the bottom 8 and into the rim 6 and collars or sleeves 13-13 surrounding the screws 12- 12 and serving to hold the member 8 sepa- 60 rated from the lower edge of the rim 6 to afford the space 11.

The member 8 is preferably provided with a cent-ral aperture 11i and this I find, especially when taken in connection with the space or opening 11 greatly improves the musical tone, rendering the same free and pure, and also strengthens the musical effect of the instrument, permitting free escape of the soundV from the interior of the instrument. The bottom member 8 is preferably provided with an annular thickened portion 15 surrounding the central circular aperture 14.

As a preferred arrangement the top or sounding board 7 is further strengthened and braced preferably by cushion or elastic means capable of adjustment. The arrangement shown comprises a spring member 17 arranged below the cross piece 10 and having its ends provided with upturned clips 18-18 arranged at the sides of the member 10, and a spindle 19 having its upper end secured to the central portion of the member 17 and extending downwardly from the same to a clip or bracket 20 secured by screws 21 to the bottom member 8. The lower end of the spindle 19 is threaded as at 22 and provided with a knurled head 23, and the bracket 2G is correspondingly threaded so that by turning the head 23 the tension on the spring 17 may be 0 varied, thereby varying the pressure applied to the sounding board 7 by said spring 17. By putting some pressure upwardly on the spring 17 the sounding board 7 may be pushed upon upwardly to an extent to hold it in a fiat condition and prevent its being bent or forced downwardly.

rThe instrument is preferably provided with a support by which it may be rested for example upon the leg or knee of the player, N0

and this support is preferably not only adjustable to permit the instrument to be supported at varying heights, but is also preferably made so that it can .be pushed into and confined wi hin the instrument when not in use. The support shown consists of a slide rod 25 preferably made of metal and arranged to slide back and forth in the crevice or space 11 and also in a block 26 secured to the bottom 8 and forming bearing and guideway for said member 25. A plunger 28 is arranged in a cavity or recess 29 and subject to a spring 30 so as to apply pressure upon the slide 25, thereby permitting it to be moved but tending to hold it in any adjusted position. The outer end of the slide Q5 is provided with a head 31, preferably made of rubber or some other suitable soft material, so that it may rest easily upon the knee or leg of a person playing the instrument. The other end of the slide rod 25 is provided with a recess or depression 38 a short distance from the end and a pin 34 near the end. rlhe recess 33 engages a small spring controlled pin 38a in block 26. The pin 34 holds the rod' from being pulled out of the instrument.' Thus a ready adjustment'of the rod is permitted to allow the instrument to be supported at different heights, and at the same time when the rod is not in use it may be pushed into the instrument asV shown in Fig. 3, and so be out of the way.

r1`he bridge 5 is preferably made withends 5a, which are curved and inclined to the general length of the bridge so that they have about the same curvature as the adjacent portion of the rim of the sounding board l, whereby a better and more artistic appearance is presented.

1ty will be understood that changes and modifications may be made without departing from thespirit of the invention.

lWhat I claim is:

1. A stringed musical instrument having a body comprising an annular wooden rim, a fiat wooden top forming a sounding board, and a wooden bottom, the bottom beingY separated from the lower edge of the rim by an air space affording communication with the interior ofthe instrument and having a central aperture.

2. A stringed musical instrument having a Y body comprising an vannular wooden rim, a fiat wooden top forming a sounding board, and a wooden bottom, the bottom being separated from the lower edge of the rim by an air space affording communication with the interior of the instrument, and being provided with aperture also affording interior communication. Y A stringed musical instrument having a body comp 'ising an annular wooden rim, a flat-wooden top forming a sounding board, and wooden bottom, the bottom being separated from the lower edge ofthe rim by an air space affording communication with the interior of the instrument, and being provided with a central aperture also alfording interior communication.

t. A stringed musical instrument having a body comprising an annular wooden rim, a flat wooden top forming a sounding board and a wooden bottom, said top being provided with means for controlling its tension coinprising a spring member applied to the inner side of said sounding board, and means for adjusting said spring member, comprising a screw threaded spindle connected with said spring member and having threaded connection with the bottom of the instrument.

5. A stringed musical instrument having a wooden rim and also havingl a wooden.` sounding board in combination with means for adjusting the tension of said sounding board', comprising a spring member and means for adjusting the same, said spring` member being bow-shaped and. extended lengthwise underneath the sounding board.

and said adjusting means comprising a spindle having a loose connection with said bow spring, and having a threaded connection withthe bottom of the instrument, the lower. end of said spindle being exposed topermit its beingl turned from theV outside.

6. The combination lwith theV sounding board of a tension device for the sameV coinprising a bow-shaped spring applied to the inner side of the sounding board, a spindle having a rotary connection with said springV and extending downwardly therefrom, a bottom forthe instrument provided with an aperture and a bracket extendingl across said aperture and secured at its ends to the bottom at the sidesof the aperture, said spindle being extended through said bracket and Ahaving threaded connection therewith.

7 A stringed musical instrument` having its body provided with an adjustable support comprising a slide rod adapted to slide V,back

and forth through the rim `of the body, saidV instrument being provided with an interiorly; arranged block forming fa bearing for Qsaid slide rod, said block being secured tothe bottom of the instrument, said bottom being sep-p arated from the rim by an air space andsaid sliding rod beinglocated in said space.

8. A stringed musical instrument having an annular .wooden body rim provided with an unapertured topand'a bottom secured thereto, the bottom having a sound openin cent portion of the body rim structure so as to form a sound outlet space between it and said body rim structure. Y y

9. A stringed musical instrument having-a body comprising an annularrwoo'den rim, a fiat closed wooden top attached thereto forming a sounding board, a wooden bottom. secured to the said wooden rim in spaced relation thereto and held away therefrom by O ,mi said bottom bein-g separated from theV adjaspacing blocks, resulting in sound-Wave exits and said wooden bottom being provided with a central soundwave-liberating opening.

10. A stringed musical instrument having a body rim, an unapertured top attached to one edge thereof for forming a tight closure, a bottom member secured to the opposite edge of the said rim, but removed therefrom by spacing members, forming thereby substantially a continuous opening for the liberation of sound Waves.

In Witness whereof, I hereunto subscribe my name this 4th day of March, A. I). 1921.

WALTER I. KIRK. 

